Loctite range of maintenance products safe for use in food plants

Stringent assessments and due diligence must be conducted before non-food chemicals, packaging materials and building construction supplies are brought into food and beverage manufacturing facilities. Henkel understands this, which is why the leading source for industrial adhesives and sealants is also a trusted supplier to the food and beverage industry. In fact, Henkel offers a range of maintenance products that are approved for use in the food and beverage industry, and that comply with regulatory measures by Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Regulatory changes

Until 2014, assurance that non-food substances and construction materials were safe to use in food plants could be obtained from the CFIA, which issued ‘Letters of No Objection’ for products that complied. But in 2014, Health Canada announced that the CFIA no longer required industry to pre-register construction materials, packaging materials, non-food chemicals and working apparel, and no longer had regulatory authority to evaluate or register these materials. However, Health Canada would continue to provide Letters of No Objection for food packaging materials and non-food chemicals such as threadlockers, lubricants and anti-seize, but it won’t evaluate construction materials.

Food manufacturers using impacted products may opt to continue to use products that already have a Letter of No Objection, or a previous Letter of Acceptance (LOA) provided by the CFIA, or obtain a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) from the supplier of the product or material.

The CFIA, in fact, requires that Letters of Guarantee for non-food chemical products that come into contact with food or food contact surfaces contain:

• The identification of the non-food chemical product by brand name or code number;
• A statement that the non-food chemical product is safe and suitable for use as intended in food establishments;
• A statement that the firm will provide, if requested by the CFIA, all supporting documents to demonstrate the product is safe and/or suitable for use as intended;
• Directions for use in food establishments; and
• The signature of the firm providing the letter of guarantee.

Additional details

Henkel has closely followed Health Canada and regulation changes, and readily provides guidance to its customers on product selection and certification. Hundreds of the company’s non-food substances and construction materials are already listed by the CFIA and, in numerous other cases, Henkel can demonstrate a product’s adherence to food safety standards.

For more information on products approved for food and beverage operations, contact a Henkel adhesive and sealants specialist at 1-800-263-5043, or visit Henkel’s website.

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